200 Years of the House of Lords Library: Anniversary Display

The ‘200 Years of the House of Lords Library’ display in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords, highlights key moments in the Library’s history through a selection of books and material from its historical collections.

The content below accompanies the exhibition panels on display, telling the story of how the Library has evolved to meet the changing needs of the House of Lords. It includes an image gallery of the panels and of the display itself, alongside selected highlights including Statham’s Abridgement (1490) and the Cranmer Bible (1562).

All images on this page are subject to parliamentary copyright.

Origins and the new Palace

The Library was established on 17 May 1826, when Sir John Soane, architect to the House of Lords, was asked to design a dedicated Library space. Completed in 1827, the original Library survived the Great Fire of 1834, which destroyed much of the Palace of Westminster.

Following the fire, Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin designed the new Palace. The current Library suite, completed in 1848, overlooks the River Thames and reflects Pugin’s Gothic style, with richly decorated ceilings, oak panelling and fittings.

Building the collections

During the 19th century, the Library’s collections expanded through gifts, donations and bequests from members. Highlights include legal collections donated by Lord Chancellors such as Lord Brougham and Lord Truro, Irish parliamentary material, and political caricatures by James Gillray. Some of these items remain among the Library’s oldest and most significant holdings.

Librarians and modernisation

Successive Librarians shaped the Library’s development. In the early 20th century, Sir Edmund Gosse broadened the range of subjects collected, while Sir Charles Travis Clay modernised cataloguing and protected the collections from bomb damage during the Second World War.

From the 1970s onwards, reforms reflected a changing House. The Library established a professional research service, hired qualified librarians and researchers, introduced technology and expanded its support for members’ legislative and scrutiny work.

The Library today

Today, the House of Lords Library holds around 80,000 books, publishes briefings on Lords business, and responds to thousands of enquiries each year from members.

This display reflects both the Library’s rich history and its continuing role in providing impartial, authoritative and timely support to Members of the House of Lords.